Fortum opens Sweden's first high-power charging station for electric vehicles

Fortum Charge & Drive opened Sweden's first high-power charging (HPC) station for electric vehicles in Kristinehamn on August 23, 2018. Located at a McDonald's restaurant approximately 270 kilometers west of Stockholm, the new station enables next-generation EVs to charge about 250 km of range in only 10 minutes, which is seven times faster than current market quick chargers.

The Kristinehamn station is part of Fortum Charge & Drive's initiative to build the first High-Power Charging (HPC) corridor between Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki. This corridor aims to provide enhanced charging capabilities for long-range EV models (over 300 km) by offering higher charging speeds. The goal is to make it possible for electric cars to travel between Helsinki and Oslo in a timeframe comparable to conventional vehicles.

"We started our high-power charging journey from Oslo in April," said Annika Hoffner, Head of Public charging service and home charging at Fortum. "This is our second step in establishing a network that will make electric long-distance travelling in the Nordics even more convenient. Additional HPC stations will be opened in Sweden and Finland in the coming months."

The development in Kristinehamn signifies a significant step in expanding the Nordic charging infrastructure. It addresses the growing need for faster charging solutions to support the wider adoption of electric vehicles for longer journeys, reducing charging times and increasing the practicality of electric mobility across the region.